Ms Jacinta Hastings:

I thank the Chair for the question. We were not aware of any such situation until that particular one, which we are now aware of, was reported. The process of accessing an inpatient facility begins with the need being assessed by the consultant psychiatrist and the team. Once an assessment has been made, if it is deemed necessary for the person to receive inpatient treatment rather than treatment in the community and if that treatment is not available in a public facility, the options include attending a private provider. As the Chair mentioned, access to such facilities is reliant on private health insurance but, in some cases and if deemed necessary, the consultant can make a case to the HSE to support the person to enter the facility. The consultant makes that assessment.